D.—s>

1884, NEW ZEALAND

MAIN TRUNK LINE, AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON. (REPORTS ON).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, with Leave of the House , ! and ordered to be printed,

CENTRAL ROUTE Mr. J. Eochfoet to the Engineek-in-Chakge, North Island, Wellington. SiJi, — Nelson, sth February, 1884. Having completed the exploration for a line of railway between Marton and To AwamutUj I have the honour to report as follows : — Starting from Marton the country over which the line runs is principally open, and presents no difficulty, the Pourewa being reached by a side-cutting from the terrace of the Eangitikei almost on a level. The line then follows up the Pourewa Valley to about three miles beyond Hunterville, and thence crosses to the Eangitikei. The Pourewa is all flat bush of good sawing quality, and the land is good; the river is about 20ft. wide, and, winding much about the flat, will have to be bridged several times in order to run the line straight; ballast can be got near The Eangitikei Valley lies about 150 ft. below the level of the Pourewa where the most favourable place for leaving the latter occurs. The Eangitikei Eiver is generally confined between marl {papa) cliffs 150 ft. to 200 ft. high, but there are occasionally lower terraces, a large one occurring at Otairi, where there is a Native settlement. It is free from side gullies of any importance, and the hills which bound the terraces are generally of very easy slopes. The Makohine, at 80 miles, a detail of which is shown on the section, forms a break in the line of considerable difficulty, owing to its great depth below the terrace levels ; but, as the creek itself is only 30ft. wide, and the opening V-shaped, the deep part of the viaduct would be confined to a short distance, pier foundations easily obtained, and any work done built on dry land. On careful survey considerable modifications might be effected. Near the confluence of the Hautapu (4-1 miles) the bluff's are rather higher, and several spurs run down to the bluffs through one a tunnel of perhaps two chains will be necessary, and the grading will then run nearly level into the Hautapu. About three miles of the Eangitikei is open grass and fern, the remainder bush of good mill timber— pines, rimu, totara, tawa, and maire-totara. The soil is very good, as the soil usually is overlying marl formations. The Hautapu Valley as far as 66 miles is similar in character, with high marl cliffs and terraces above, occasionally a spur coming down and ending in a higher bluff on the river, which will cause side-cutting; at 53 miles there is a limestone outcrop. These spurs almost invariably widen out into a terrace more or loss long near the river, with high bluffs, but narrow into a razorback ridge behind, often actually of a lower level. The timber and soil are both excellent. There is one old Native clearing, overgrown with scrub, of about twenty acres at the lower end of the river. There are no side gullies of importance, and no large creeks as at the Eangitikei, culverts will generally carry the drainage. The north-east side of the Hautapu appears to be very considerably rougher. Ballast can be got in creeks near the Hautapu confluence, but I did not see any between there and the 66 miles. From 66 miles to 79 miles will be side-cuttings and flats about half open, the side-slopes are easy, and the land very good. I believe that, on survey, the grades will work out much flatter, as it is a matter of impossibility to judge distances accurately, and to the eye the river appears much flatter than the section shows. All the country towards Euanui and Eaketepauma, lying west and north-west of this, is very good up to the edge of the Murimotu Plain. Turangarere and the highest point of the Waihora will both be places of importance, the former as the nearest point to Patea, the latter as the probable connection with Tokaano and Taupo; and a few miles lower the Murimotu Plains will connect with Wanganui.